Gaighat, October 28:

A joint forest and police security team today demolished around 700 huts of squatters who were encroaching upon the Mothihai jungle at Jogidaha Village Development Committee, ward number 8, and arrested 16 leaders of the settlers.

Displaced families from different parts of the district had for the past one week been clearing the jungle to build their huts. Hence the District Forest Office had on Wednesday issued a 24-hour notice requesting the evacuation of the forest area.

But after the settlers didn’t leave in the given period, a security team led by Chief District Officer Jeewan Prasad Oli and Forest Officer Ram Briksha Thakur had to tear down the huts forcibly, District Forest Office, Udaypur, said.

On the other hand, the displaced people have complained that they have nowhere to go after their shelters were brought down.

Gokul Rai, one of the settlers, said he had been displaced since the floods last year and had constructed a hut in the forest area as he needed a shelter. He demanded the government provide the settlers a place to stay.

“Despite our pleas, they tore down our houses. Where are we supposed to go now?” Rai said.

Forest Officer ThakurO however said that the landless people were taking advantage of their status and recent action against them was necessary. He said regular monitoring of the area would be done.